Decision day for Omagh bomb families

The last major court case connected to the Omagh bomb atrocity concludes today when Northern Ireland's new lord chief justice decides whether the victims' families have the right to sue five men alleged to belong to the Real IRA leadership.

Relatives of those who died in the massacre said last night that if they win their right to pursue the alleged Real IRA commanders – Michael McKevitt (allegedly founder of the Real IRA), Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly, Colm Murphy and Seamus McKenna – and their assets it will have implications for the victims of terrorism across the world.

Mr Justice Declan Morgan will deliver his judgement at Belfast high court at 11.30am after an eight-year case that made legal history. The Omagh civil action became the first case to be heard on both sides of the Irish border after gardai – Irish police – were granted special permission to give evidence about the bomb plot and the Real IRA.

The Omagh bomb massacre in August 1998 was the single biggest atrocity of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Twenty-nine people including a woman heavily pregnant with twins as well as children from Northern Ireland, England and Spain were killed in the bombing in the County Tyrone market town. No one has been brought to justice in relation to the Real IRA attack.